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Lack of grass cutting continues to upset residents

COMPLAINTS about overgrown verges continue as grass reaches new heights around the county.

Buckinghamshire County Council (BCC) decided this year to reduce the number of grass cuts from ten to six, so verges along the side of roads and paths have become overgrown.

Wycombe District and Princes Risborough Town Councillor, Gary Hall, has raised the many concerns of residents about the unsightly state of the grass to the council.

He said it was unacceptable to reach week 25 in the year and for Princes Risborough to have only had one urban grass cut from BCC, which he said is neglectful and badly received.

While district councillor Brian Pearce said the increasing grass length is also causing dangerous conditions for drivers.

He said he was travelling towards Stokenchurch from the direction of Mill Lane in Ibstone, when at the junction with the slip road coming from the M40, the grass is so long a driver could not see him coming and had to edge out gradually.

Cllr Pearce said: "I believe this grass in this particular location should be cut immediately before there is a major accident. It was only the fact that I was travelling fairly slowly because of trying to find a side turning. I am quite sure that there are other locations with a similar health and safety and road safety issue throughout the county."

Dorothy Lewis from Park Lane, Lane End said the grass outside her home has grown as high as her fence.

She said: "It has obliterated a new house sign we had to have put up because the doctor couldn't find us.

"I have lived here for 58 years and I haven't seen it like this. I don't know what I can do."

Transport for Buckinghamshire, who carry out the grass cutting, said urban grass cutting started on April 6 on a five week cycle between cuts and due to the rainfall and ideal growing condition experienced in April and early May the programme was approximately one week late.

They said the first cut always looks slightly untidy as they raise the flail on the mowers so as not to kill the grass on the first cut.

WDC, who cuts the grass on its land 12 times a year, and BCC said discussions are ongoing to potentially devolve the responsibility of grass cutting to parish and town councils.

Transport for Buckinghamshire said its responsibility was to keep highways in a safe condition, which requires it to cut grass around junctions that could impair the vision of motorists.

It added: "As we have a duty to carry this out on all roads we are responsible for, we are sometimes unable to cut surrounding areas of grass that could delay us from attending other areas that may pose potential safety issues."

Any problems with grass cutting, or to report a verge in need of cutting, can be done online: www.buckscc.gov.uk/telltfb